The Maker and The Merchant

THURSDAY 20TH: CHARLIE SCRASE DICKINS COOLHURST

What’s cooler than being cool? Being an awesome English wine grower making something unique, exciting, and boundary pushing. Or as Andre 3000 summed it up…’ice cold’.
Charlie quoted Gareth Maxwell when he told me “B*ll*cks, what can go wrong?”. Charlie takes us on a wonderful journey through the incredible history of this piece of land – a history that involves Henry VIII, the Canadian Royal Air Force, Peter Dominic…and even AC/DC (just about). Anyone else got that in their English wine armoury? We think not.
 
Coolhurst produce the Triple Vs: all their wines are single variety, single vineyard, and single vintage. A bold move in a marginal climate where there is nowhere to hide. But hiding isn’t necessary, the Coolhurst wines comes highly rated (especially by Lee who knows them reasonably well)
 
So settle in for a fabulous episode in which Charlie reveals all about Coolhurst and we all cover some thoughts on vintage variation and wine comms.
 
@nicolabateswinegb @winegb @coolhurstvineyards #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

WEDNESDAY 19TH: ALEX TAYLOR IEWA

So far this week we’ve talked to chief executives, makers, marketers, and retailers…we now turn our attentions to competitors. Or rather, competition organisers. For the last 8 years the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) has flown the flag for this growing industry, and its many varied and dynamic producers.
 
Lee himself holds the privilege of having judged, and served as a panel chair, and multiple occasions but this time, we get the down low, the intel, the facts from the founder of this competition. Alex Taylor had his interest in wine competitions piqued by studying WSET. He was furious when first introduced to English wine…that it hadn’t been brought to his attention earlier. Thus started a journey into starting a competition that would help raise the profile of producers and the whole category.
 
Alex explains his ethos, how the competition works, and mentions just a few of the many extremely talented judges and brilliant medal winners. It’s a classic TM&TM slice of English wine action so strap in and enjoy. We also have a special visit from the Taylor clan.
 
@nicolabateswinegb @winegb @tasetbristol @the.iewa @dnkrbywine @messy.massey @lymebaywine @jameslambertwine @theenglishwineman @hawkinsbros @waistcoatwines @pickledmimi @huxbear_vineyard @susyatkins @food_writer @liamsteevenson @langhamwinery @tuffonhallwine @windingwoodvineyard @burnvalleyvineyard @greatbritishwine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

TUESDAY 18TH: SARAH MASSEY LYME BAY

For several years now, Lee has talked about his heroes, specifically his wine heroes, more specifically his wine superheroes. There is an equivalent to the Bat Signal in this world of English wine, and it takes the form of Sarah Massey and Lyme Bay.
 
We have been incredibly fortunate to grab a few minutes of Sarah’s time and here we explore her journey into wine and how she has become not only a stellar winemaker, but a serious role model for young women in the industry. There is much more to this conversation and we hope to have Sarah back on soon for a full episode to explore her career, influences, and huge impact on the industry.
 
This aside we learn about the ethos and direction of Lyme Bay, and how Sarah goes about expressing the multiple sites and high quality fruit grown in some of England’s most premium and exciting sites. It’s a jam packed episode and one we know has much more to cover. We press Sarah for her favourites in the Lyme Bay range and recommend seeking them out to enjoy this English Wine Week.
 
@nicolabateswinegb @winegb @messy.massey @lymebaywine @jameslambertwine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

MONDAY 17TH: JAMES HAWKINS – HAWKINS BROS

It’s all very well and good talking about the amazing producers, sites, and fruit England now has in its armoury. It’s also fun talking about marketing and comms (hear yesterday’s episode) but who is on the front lines? Who is going out into the real world of UK wine consumers and fighting the good fight to get as many great wines in front of them as possible?
 
We have some great retailers of wine in the UK and in today’s episode we spend some time chatting to the wonderful James Hawkins of Hawkins Bros, an English Wine Specialist retailer. It’s here at the coal face that we can discover in real time what consumer think, want, and expect of English wine. Retailers perform a key task in being the link from vineyard and winery to actual drinker and James shares his insights and thoughts on where English wine sits in the mind of the modern consumer.
 
Among events the Hawkins Bros are running this week you’ll be able to try wines from @albourneestate @extonparkvineyard @greyfriarsvineyard @simpsonswine @candoverbrook @drink.folc @ambrielsparkling (which won’t be the only time they’re mentioned in this series!). James also talks about his discoveries through @the.iewa including @windingwoodvineyard and @poyningsgrangevineyard.
 
Keep your eye on their social channels for full event details.
 
@nicolabateswinegb @winegb @tastebristol@theenglishwineman @hawkinsbros #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

SUNDAY 16TH: DAN KIRBY FLINT

Like any decent minded individual we bloody love Dan Kirby. A font of wisdom and knowledge, MW student, and Brand Ambassador for Flint Vineyards. We get straight into it by asking Dan to give us the intel on Flint but the conversation quickly moves into the realm of consumer attitudes, expectations, and how we can better build comms and engagement.
 
With Dan’s trademark insight and wit we look into where English wine is currently and examine the opportunities for growth. All of this weaves effortlessly around what Flint do, how they do it, and what makes them tick. There’s a lot of great stuff here from both a producer and consumer perspective.
So, settle in and prepare to be both soothed and enlightened by the gentle tones of one of English wine’s great figures.
 
@nicolabateswinegb @winegb @dnkrbywine @flintvineyard #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147

SATURDAY 15TH: NICOLA BATES WINEGB

Who better to talk to at the beginning of English Wine Week than Nicola Bates? The Chief Executive of WineGB very kindly found time in her ridiculously busy schedule to talk to us.
Nicola talks us through the vital work of WineGB and explains the many different complex areas in which this organisation works. We assess the impact on plans of the sudden election campaign and discuss how to move forward during these turbulent times.
 
Nicola also explains the key areas of focus for WineGB and its members, before we go all JFK and ask not what WineGB can do for us, but what can we do for WineGB. Finally, we ask Nicola to highlight some important events and activity to look for during this English Wine Week. There’s a lot of ground covered for such a short episode and we hope to entice Nicola back for a more indepth chat in future. Until then, enjoy this great primer to English wine and English Wine Week.
 
Our sincere thanks again to Nicola for finding the time to chat to us.
 
@nicolabateswinegb @winegb #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147
 

TM&TM EWW

TM&TM:EWW
Hot on the heels of Welsh Wine Week and the internationally* successful TM&TM: WWW Ferg & Lee are delighted to kick things off for English Wine Week. A huge celebration of all that is great about English wine. Well, not all, because we can’t fit that in. Over the course of English Wine Week we will be talking to the makers and shakers, the groovers and movers, the people who make English wine tick.
 
This is a dynamic and exciting scene filled with vibrance, creativity, and excitement. Over the course of English Wine Week you’ll hear from growers, makers, retailers, marketers, competition organisers, and best of all, the Chief Executive of WineGB herself. So keep your pods open and your ears logged on…we’re come at you like a bullet, like a ray, like a super cool English wine.
 
Our huge thanks to everyone involved in English Wine Week, especially those who have taken the time to chat to us. @nicolabateswinegb @winegb @tasetbristol @the.iewa @dnkrbywine @flintvineyard @coolhurstvineyards @allangelsvineyard @bottleopenerltd @messy.massey @lymebaywine @jameslambertwine @theenglishwineman @hawkinsbros @mariedenisedavies @stophamvineyard @nataliaharriswine #Englishwineweek #Englishwine #DrinkEnglish #EWW #ESW #EnglishSparklingWine @fergelias @wineman147
 
*Wales is another country after all

Take Your Cos And F**k O** (Tom, Paso Primero pt 2)

Amazingly following last week’s debacle, Tom of Paso Primero (and Guardian snack feature) fame has returned to TM&TM Towers! At least this time he was prepared for a recording that had no plan, no understanding of how to conduct a tightly structured interview, and two presenters he described as ‘duelling banjos’.
This time we delve deeply into the wines crafted by Tom’s own hands (and jocks). Thanks to the magnificent Online Wine Tasting Company, Ferg and Lee each had 6 of Tom’s wines to taste (drink) and work through under Tom’s expert tutelage. Through the medium of these wines Tom shares more of his winemaking stories, Spanish adventures, and exactly how he went about crafting them.
It’s fair to say that our pair of banjos were suitably impressed. Blown away. These wines fully deserve their cult status and following, and not just because Tom himself is a class act. If you would like to try them, you can purchase the same tasting pack through The Online Tasting Club. Do it, you won’t be disappointed.
From outdated pop culture references, chasing cockerels, and dubious use of sponsorship money, this episode is another big one, but it’s a huge amount of wine tasting and story telling fun. You’ll love it.
TM&TM: Take Your Cos And F*** O*** loaddownable from your poddingcasts Thursday morning.

Not Contributing To The Science (Tom, Paso Primero pt 1)

How does a Shrewsbury boy achieve fame through the medium of savoury snacks and The Guardian newspaper while simultaneously being a rock start winemaker in Spain with a cult following? All this will be explored, and much more, in Part I of TM&TM’s interview with Thomas Holt A.K.A. Mr Paso.
The winemaking genius behind Paso Primero started life as a potential kickball star before discovering booze. Or he was injured or some other excuse. Before long he was headed to University where his contributions to science have never been questioned…as it seems there aren’t any. Suddenly it was back home to Shropshire and into the loving arms of one of the UK’s best wine merchants (for once, this isn’t actually about Bin Two)…Tanners. It was here that Tom fell in love…in more ways than one.
Following sojourns around New Zealand and Canada, it was off to Spain to establish what has quickly become an iconic brand with a fabulous story. With success in Somontano came a journey back to the world of The Kickball as Tom became the winemaker-on-call for Shrewsbury Town.
In this episode we tackle winemaking techniques, the beauty of Shropshire (especially that there flower show), and high profile celebrity encounters. Ferg improves upon his [guest name] Doo [guest name] Don’t in a way no one could have foreseen and Lee returns to pitting the two winemakers head to head in a battle of vinous wits.
It’s a big one this, and rightfully so. So settle in, kick off your dancing shoes, and be ready for Part I of a Pasodyssey.
TM&TM: Not Contributing To The Science out Thursday morning to podcast from wherever you get your downloads

SUNDAY 02ND: Liz @ St. Hilary

We round out our series on Welsh wines with a look to the future. While there are now many established vineyards in Wales, it is still new territory with new plantings and producers popping up all the time. One such producer is St. Hilary. Planted in 2021, their first harvest took place last year, with the first wines expected imminently.
 
Liz explains where the dream originated, what they planted, and their hopes for their wines, and those of the Welsh Wine industry too. Liz shares so much information and detail on the St. Hilary story you’d think they’d been established for a decade. This new vineyard has a lot of potential and early barrel sampling of the wine has yielded some very positive feedback from a knowledgeable industry figure. Learn more about them by following them at @sthilaryvineyard.
 
We have had such fun talking to all our guests over the course of this series, although we’re no closer to an answer on the badger question. Hopefully this series has revealed how adventurous, creative, and dynamic the Welsh wine industry really is. There are many more producers than the handful we’ve interviewed here, and perhaps we’ll be able to entice more to join us at TM&TM Towers soon.
 
Our sincere thanks to @vinvancymru, @thedellvineyard, @valevinesandwines, @welshwines, @terroir.iste, @whinyardrocks, @montgomeryvineyard, @velfreyvineyard, @ancrehill, and of course @sthilaryvineyard.
 
Go and get visiting and tasting Welsh wine and share with us your thoughts through social media or by emailing themakerandthemerchant@gmail.com
 
@welshwineweek @welshvineyardassociation #WelshWineWeek #Welshwine #podcast #wine #winecast @fergelias @wineman147